Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has officially announced his retirement from the Gabon national team at age 37, capping a 15-year international career by heavily criticizing the country’s government and football federation over what he described as a deeply unfair campaign against his reputation following a disastrous 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
The veteran striker, who currently plays for Deportivo de La Coruña in Spain, revealed his decision during an interview with the Canal+ program Talent d’Afrique. Aubameyang pointed directly to the aftermath of the tournament held in Morocco as the breaking point for his international future with Les Panteras.
The Breaking Point After AFCON 2025
Gabon’s participation in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations ended in a group-stage exit after three losses, concluding with a 3-2 defeat against Ivory Coast. According to multiple reports, Aubameyang played through a thigh injury during the competition before departing early to receive treatment with his then-club Olympique de Marsella.
The underwhelming performance triggered an aggressive reaction from Gabonese authorities. The government dissolved the technical staff, temporarily suspended the entire national team setup, and publicly singled out Aubameyang alongside fellow veteran defender Bruno Ecuele Manga as some of the responsible parties for the team’s failure.
“They humiliated me and stained my image when I played the Africa Cup of Nations injured,” Aubameyang said in his television interview, as reported by outlets covering the announcement. “It was the straw that broke the camel’s back, and I prefer to leave it at that.”
Government Scrutiny and Structural Turmoil
The tensions extended to the highest office in the country. Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema publicly claimed that the national team’s poor showing had damaged the nation’s identity, rhetoric that further inflamed public debate and intensified pressure on the squad’s senior players.
Throughout the fallout, Aubameyang maintained that the structural issues plaguing Gabonese football ran far deeper than the performance of individual players. Although government-imposed sanctions against the players were eventually lifted—partly amid concerns over potential FIFA penalties regarding political interference—the working relationship between the record goalscorer and national administrators was irreparably broken.
Even with his return made legally possible, Aubameyang opted to walk away permanently rather than rejoin a setup marked by institutional friction.
Legacy as Gabon’s All-Time Top Scorer
Aubameyang departs the international stage as the undisputed talisman of modern Gabonese football. Over a career spanning more than a decade and a half since his debut in 2009, he accumulated 40 goals in 83 appearances for Les Panteras, serving as both captain and attacking spearhead.
His departure leaves newly appointed head coach Sébastien Migné with a massive rebuilding job. Migné must construct a competitive squad for upcoming qualifiers without the country’s most prolific talisman, particularly as the team looks ahead to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations hosted jointly by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Focus Shift to LaLiga with Deportivo
While his international chapter concludes under a cloud of controversy, Aubameyang’s club career has found new life in Spain. Following a storied European career that included stints with Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea, and Olympique de Marsella, the forward signed with Deportivo de La Coruña ahead of their return to Spain’s top flight.
Operating in LaLiga, Aubameyang has quickly quieted doubts regarding his longevity. He has established himself as a central figure in Deportivo’s attack, delivering immediate goalscoring output and winning over supporters in Galicia.
With the national team firmly behind him, Aubameyang’s immediate focus rests squarely on club football and maintaining his scoring form for Deportivo as the Spanish league season progresses. Fans and analysts tracking his next moves can follow official club updates and league announcements as Deportivo prepares for its upcoming fixtures.
Related reading
